A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Blue River Campground

Forest Service campground in White River National Forest, Summit County, Colorado. 8,473 feet. 5.1 miles from Silverthorne.

Managed by
Forest Service White River National Forest
Elevation
8,473 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
24 21 standard non-electric, 3 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
2 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Summit County

Overview

Blue River Campground is located 10 minutes north of Silverthorne on Highway 9 in White River National Forest. This cozy campground is located between Lake Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoirs along the banks of the Blue River. With breath taking scenery and the sound of the flowing river, this is a favorite spot for many.

Recreation

Encompassing a landscape of rivers, mountains, trails and forest roads, the White River National Forest is one of the top recreation forests in the nation. Anglers will find populations of rainbow and brown trout when casting their lines out into the water. River access through the campground is for paid campers only. Boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and endless miles of hiking trails are within a short drive in either direction from the campground.

Facilities

Blue River Campground has 24 standard sites suitable for tents and smaller trailers. Vault toilets are provided. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bear box.

Natural Features

In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting eight wilderness areas, four defined seasons and ten peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. The White River National Forest was established in 1891 as the White River Plateau Timber Reserve; the second such reserve to be named in the United States. In 1905, the newly formed Forest Service was given authority of the reserve. Long before this designation, the area was home to the Ute Indians who followed herds of elk and bison on their seasonal migrations. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

The land around Blue River Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.